He got up and followed Song Yuanqiao, leaving the main hall and heading to the guest room.
After watching Hu Qingniu leave, Xiao Ning took a sip of tea and began to recount his experiences on the trip.
From descending the mountain to the north to Dadu, he interrogated the whereabouts of the Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment, slaughtered the entire family of Prince Ruyang, confronted the Mongol Yuan National Preceptor Liansheng in the street, then went south to northern Anhui to invite Hu Qingniu, and returned to Wudang amidst a bloody storm.
"...After traveling thousands of miles and more than two months, I'm finally back!"
Xiao Ning's journey has been full of ups and downs, and its dramatic events have impressed Song Yuanqiao and the others.
Upon hearing that he had retrieved the Black Jade Rejuvenating Ointment, the brothers and sisters beamed with joy, their eyes welling up with tears.
After recounting the story, Xiao Ning said, "I have a little ulterior motive in inviting Hu Qingniu up the mountain. After all, the Prince of Ruyang is a Mongol, and one can't be too careful. I'm afraid he might give me poison, which would be troublesome!"
Zhang Sanfeng nodded: "What you say makes sense, Junior Brother!"
Then, Xiao Ning asked, "Senior brother, I heard from the patrolling disciples down the mountain that outsiders have been trespassing on the mountain recently? Is that true?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng's smile faltered, and he sighed, "Indeed, ever since that birthday banquet, there have been thieves breaking into the mountain, clamoring for Cuishan to hand over Xie Xun's whereabouts. It's truly annoyed beyond measure!"
"What audacity!"
Xiao Ning frowned: "Does Senior Brother know where these people come from?"
After arranging for Hu Qingniu, Song Yuanqiao, who had returned, heard this and said, "Reporting to my master, after a disciple reported this matter, I kept a close eye on things and took action to capture some people. After careful questioning, I found that most of them were from small sects in the martial arts world, not disciples of major sects."
Zhang Cuishan stood up with a guilty look on his face and said, "It's all my fault. I've disturbed the peace of the sect and caused Master so much worry!"
Zhang Sanfeng waved his hand and comforted her, "Cuishan, you don't need to blame yourself!"
"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it! With this old Taoist priest here, even if a thousand troops attack the mountain, I can protect you completely!"
"Don't overthink it. Just stay on the mountain and don't go anywhere!"
After comforting his beloved disciple, Zhang Sanfeng turned to Xiao Ning and asked, "Junior Brother, you just mentioned inviting this Physician Hu up the mountain and promising that his consultation fee would be the head of Master Xianyu of Mount Hua. Do you have anything to say about this?"
Regardless, Xianyu Tong, as the head of the Huashan Sect, was a very important figure in the martial arts world, not some nobody.
Wudang is one of the six major sects in the world, so it's impossible that they would kill Xianyu Tong just to save Yu Daiyan.
Zhang Sanfeng couldn't have done such a thing, and neither could the Wudang Sect.
Xiao Ning nodded. How could he not know Zhang Sanfeng's concerns?
He then began to explain to everyone the feud between Hu Qingniu and Xianyu Tong.
Xianyu Tong was a treacherous and ruthless man with low moral character. In his youth, he enjoyed toying with women's feelings.
In his early years, Xianyu Tong had a relationship with a Miao woman that ended in heartbreak, after which the woman poisoned him with the Golden Silkworm Gu.
The woman, however, hoped he would change his mind, so she didn't use too much force, in order to save him.
After being poisoned, Xianyu Tong immediately fled. He was quite cunning; on his way out, he stole two pairs of golden silkworms from the Miao woman. However, not long after he escaped, he collapsed from the poison.
Just then, Hu Qingniu was collecting herbs in Miao territory and saved him. After being saved, Xianyu Tong raised silkworms according to the law, made poison powder, and hid it in the handle of a fan.
The fan handle is equipped with a mechanism. When needed, pressing the mechanism and using internal force can injure someone invisibly.
Xianyu Tong's martial arts skills were weak, so he often used a fan to launch hidden weapons to harm people.
After being saved by Hu Qingniu, Xianyu Tong fell in love with Hu Qingniu's sister, Hu Qingyang.
The naive Hu Qingyang was no match for Xianyu Tong and quickly fell for him, giving herself to him in return. The two secretly pledged their lives to each other, and she became pregnant.
Little did anyone know that Xianyu Tong would later covet the position of leader of the Huashan Sect, abandoning Hu Qingyang and marrying the only beloved daughter of the then-leader of the Huashan Sect.
Upon learning of this, Hu Qingyang was devastated and committed suicide out of shame and indignation, ultimately resulting in the deaths of both herself and her unborn child.
Hu Qingniu was furious and went to Mount Hua to reason with him, but was driven down the mountain by Xian Yutong. However, Xian Yutong's senior brother, Bai Yuan, learned about the incident.
Bai Yuan wanted to expose Xian Yutong's scandals so that he could remove Xian Yutong from his position as sect leader, but Xian Yutong struck first, secretly killing Bai Yuan with the Golden Silkworm Gu poison, leaving his body in the wilderness, and framing the Ming Cult for Bai Yuan's death.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanfeng was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared: "How can there be such a despicable person in the world? He's simply not even human!"
Song Yuanqiao was also filled with righteous indignation: "It's a disgrace that the Huashan Sect is one of the six major sects, yet its sect leader is so despicable! Bah! I'm ashamed to be associated with them!"
The others echoed their agreement.
At this moment, Zhang Songxi spoke up: "This disciple has a different opinion!"
After everyone looked over, he slowly said, "Regarding the past of Sect Leader Xianyu, I wonder where you learned about it, Uncle? Have you verified its authenticity?"
"This disciple is not questioning my master, but I fear that Wudang has become a tool in someone else's hands, causing discord between Wudang and Huashan, leading to a bloody battle between the two factions, while the mastermind behind it all reaps the benefits. By then, it will be too late to regret it!"
Zhang Songxi, as expected of the strategist of the Wudang Sect, hit the nail on the head and quickly discovered the suspicious points in Xiao Ning's words.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ning's expression froze. He wasn't angry because Zhang Songxi had talked back to him; he just didn't know how to explain it.
Should I say that I read it in Kim Dae's novels?
Damn it, how am I supposed to explain this?
I need help urgently!
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Chapter 34 Treatment of Yu Daiyan
The next day, Zhang Sanfeng, Xiao Ning, and the Seven Heroes of Wudang gathered together in Yu Daiyan's room. Everyone was too afraid to make a sound as they watched Hu Qingniu examine Yu Daiyan's pulse and injuries.
As for Zhang Songxi's question from yesterday, Xiao Ning naturally brushed it off.